Hi There,

I recently purchased some Oregon Trail 158 gr. LRN in 38 caliber. In all of my reloading books, it states the cartridge OAL is 1.510 inches When I seated these bullets, I noticed that a grove, (cannelure ?) is about 0.05 inches (measured using my digital micrometer) above the edge of the case.
Should the bullet be seated deeper?

Thanks,
Tim

Don't know anything about Oregon Trail cast bullets.

The Beartooth Bullets that are sold by this board's owner are seated to the crimping groove.

Yes. For revolver ammunition I would seat and crimp into the crimp groove even if the cartridge OAL is not quite what is recommended in the manual. The cartridge OAL is what the reloading manual folks get using their brand of bullet. Yours may come out slightly different using another brand of bullet. I try to crimp just below the lead shoulder of the bullet (like factory ammunition) but a small gap is acceptable due to slight variations in caselength. Best wishes.

Is a good reason to use "start data" from any maker of powder and consult as many sources as possible. Revolver cartridges "need" that crimp to be consistant(accurate).

.38 special could get by without it in a strong(heavy) revolver with a "mild" load. Might not be as forgiving with the new lightweights on the market. Bullet #1 recoils the firearm "away" from #s 2 3 4 5 6. Bullet #2 recoils the firearm "away" from #s 3 4 5 6. Each shot makes the remaining cartridges in the cylinder LONGER.

Once one round becomes "too long" the cyclider will no longer turn(will run into the frame). Not a good thing if you need that shot NOW!

Good revolver ammo needs good case sizing and good crimp in a "crimp grove".

I agree with Marshal Kane!

Cheezywan

Thanks guys.

I use a fairly mild load, 3.8 gr. of Win 321 for a pre model 10 4" S&W. I'll back off a couple of 1/10s and give it a try.

Best regards,

Tim

I ordered some .38 cal, plated 148 WC bullets. I don't see a groove when viewing online. The salesman said to seat them all the way in, is there a tiny groove at the top of the bullet that I can't see in the picture?

Apparently not. Would seat the bullet flush with the casemouth and roll crimp lightly over the top of bullets such as these. With all of the bullet being gripped by the casemouth and a light roll crimp over the top, there is sufficient grip to keep the bullet from working out of the case from recoil.

Is a good reason to use "start data" from any maker of powder and consult as many sources as possible. Revolver cartridges "need" that crimp to be consistant(accurate).

.38 special could get by without it in a strong(heavy) revolver with a "mild" load. Might not be as forgiving with the new lightweights on the market. Bullet #1 recoils the firearm "away" from #s 2 3 4 5 6. Bullet #2 recoils the firearm "away" from #s 3 4 5 6. Each shot makes the remaining cartridges in the cylinder LONGER.

Once one round becomes "too long" the cyclider will no longer turn(will run into the frame). Not a good thing if you need that shot NOW!

Good revolver ammo needs good case sizing and good crimp in a "crimp grove".

I agree with Marshal Kane!

Cheezywan
YEP!!
life is short..........